The woman had already hit him in the leg and the stomach. Time to end this. He slid out of the saddle and stalked into the undergrowth. Beth let go with another rock, obviously determined to meet the enemy head-on. Turning, she grasped a handful of smaller stones, whirled blindly, and looked ready to fling them at her tormentor. Obviously, she wasn’t going down without a fight. Pierce blocked her arm midair. She paused, staring into his blue eyes. His tone puzzled her, calm as still water. “What are you doing now, Miss Beth?” Fear, then elation, filled her face as she realized he wasn’t her cousin or her uncle. She paused, allowing the thought to sink in. Her hand released the load she was clutching. The stones skipped off his boots. “It’s you!” Gray Eagle rode up, dismounted, and pried rocks out of a wide-eyed Joanie’s grasp. Her incredulous look suggested she was as surprised as anyone her prayer had been answered. The scout wiped a trickle of blood off his forehead. His dark eyes calmly assessed the two women.
